Proposed Law on Proxy Service Usage

As proposed by Lewis and Clark:

Proxy Server Usage Law

Article I

Section One

The use of a proxy server by a forum user to conceal a forum user's host server is declared to be a security risk to the region.

1. The use of a proxy server by a Member Nation that is a member of The North Pacific Army or Intelligence Agencies shall require the prior express authorization of said official entity which may be disclosed confidentially to other government officials only in the performance of their official duties.

2. Use of a proxy server by a member Nation that applies for Regional Assembly membership is prohibited, and constitutes a criminal offense that may subject the violator to a permanent ban from the regional forum, ejection from the region by the UN Delegate, or both. This provision may be enforced prior to, or subsequent to, a trial in the manner provided by law.

Section Two

1. Proxy server usage is defined as the use of an IP connection with the intent of rendering a forum user anonymous, aka proxy spoofing, or any such practice designed to allow a member to have multiple accounts on the TNP forum.

Article II

This law shall go into effect immediately upon passage.

Click to expand...

There will be a short formal discussion period before this goes to a vote.

Edited to add accepted amendment to bill

I can see how this is a potential security risk. Though, as a raider I might want to keep my real IP a secret in case I ever infiltrate a defender group.

I really don't care who has my IP, and my days of intel work is pretty much over with.

The term "proxy server" needs to be specifically defined. Technically speaking, anyone who is using a standard DSL, T1, T2, etc.,, connection is using a "proxy server". Likewise, if you run your system on a LAN (a DSL connection is part of a LAN in pure terms).

Specifically, it should read "any proxy server or such connection used with the intent of rendering a forum user anonymous, proxy spoofing, or any such practice designed to allow a member to have multiple accounts on this forum".

The easy way around this is to require members to register and maintain an ISP provided email address that coincides with their respective ISP. That is, no use of web-based email addresses like yahoo, gmail, etc.,,, that cannot be specifically connected to the ISP of the forum member.

Flem has been handling this on his own by his choice, but during the terms of other MIIAs, I had to assist in checking for the use of "proxy" servers. I would say that a significant percentage of forum users have an email address with Yahoo, Hotmail, or Gmail, and a law based on email addresses would be unworkable.

There are places we can check to see if the IP is a "proxy" server. You will find that many ISPs have a range of IP numbers, and not just one. All Invisionfree forums record the IP used to join a forum, as well as the IP number one is using when you post in a thread. Consequently, we're able to get an idea of whether an "proxy" server masking a user's actual IP is being used, or at least enough so we can flag the situation and make further inquiries.

Why is this mportant? Because we need to be able to identify people who are trying to create multiple user accounts or who are trying to join the forum after they have been permanently banned for violation of forum or Invisionfree rules.

That in short is why re-enacting the prior law is the most practicable and secure course of action.

I agree with Roman for the most part!! "Proxy server" is too broad for the reasons he stated!!

I disagree with the email part for the main reason that I'd prefer my personal email address not be used for fourms to prevent being inundated with spam email!! Hence, I use a yahoo address or a hotmail address to register on fora for web-based games!!

I agree with Polts about email accounts.

Shall we add to Article One -

Section Two

1. Proxy server usage is defined as the use of an IP connection with the intent of rendering a forum user anonymous, aka proxy spoofing, or any such practice designed to allow a member to have multiple accounts on the TNP forum.

Click to expand...

That is fine with me, L&C!!

Excellent. Fine with me too!

Would the Speaker please add the new Section Two ?

Thank you.

Amendment added as requested.

Excellent.

Poltsamaa, please watch the size of the graphics you seem to have taken a liking to post with recently.

A couple of the ones you have used recently are too large, as those images affect the margins of the forum thread pages. If I, as an admin, come across any excessively large images the post will be edited and the image removed. (You might want to follow the sizelimitations for images that are in place for signatures as a way of avoiding excessively large images.)

The picture above does not affect the margins on my computer, in fact, Roman's signature pic is bigger than the picture I posted in this thread!! I have posted 2 pictures in the last 6 months, the one above and the eye in a voting thread that was admittedly huge but also awesome!!

I think you are...



...nit picking!!

It appears that there are no further issues in formal discussion of this bill as amended. A voting thread will be opened within the day.

1. Proxy server usage is defined as the use of an IP connection with the intent of rendering a forum user anonymous, aka proxy spoofing, or any such practice designed to allow a member to have multiple accounts on the TNP forum.

Click to expand...

I do have a question regarding this passage.
For quite a long time I had to use Internet by Call. To reduce costs, I dayly checked for the cheapest option and logged in using the cheapest provider. Due to the fact that there are usually only cheap time slots for 2-3 hrs, this lead to changes of my ISP two or three times during each evening, maybe even more.

Unfortunately my technical knowledge is limited, but isn't this practice "designed to allow a member to have multiple accounts" ? It is not by intent, but the passage also prohibits such practice if it is designed to allow such actions.
Now I do have a UMTS flatrate account, so it is no longer an issue for me. But what about people who need to use Internet by Call?

From an administrative point of view, use of different ISPs over the course of a day, a week, or whatever does not present an issue in and of itself. As long as the ISP is legitimate and can be verified and if thee's no history of it being used as an IP that hides or masks (by say, an anonimizer service) one's actual IP, then I would not view it as a situation that violated the old law or this proposal.